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UK CONTEMPORARY SILVER AND GOLD HALLMARKING:
HALLMARKS OF BRITISH SILVER AND GOLD
The British hallmarking system was widely modified in 1999 and some of the traditional marks
became optional symbols applied only on request alongside the compulsory hallmarks.
Henceforth, future generation of collectors will fewer and fewer find the full set
of hallmarks that for hundreds of years has characterized the British silver.
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A Hallmark is now made up of three compulsory symbols with the addition of some voluntary marks.
COMPULSORY MARKS
The Sponsor's or Maker's Mark (Compulsory mark)
Indicates the maker or sponsor of the article. This mark consists of at least two letters within a shield (of various shape),
and no two marks are the same.
Metal and fineness (purity) mark (Compulsory marks)
Indicates the precious metal content of the object, and that it is not less than the fineness indicated.
The fineness is indicated by a millesimal number (e.g. 925 is sterling). This number is contained in a shield
of oval shape for silver and of octagonal shape for gold.
SILVER
GOLD
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9 carat
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14 carat
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18 carat
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22 carat
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Assay Office Mark (Compulsory marks)
Indicates the particular Assay Office at which the article was tested and marked. There are now four
British Assay Offices: Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield
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Birmingham
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Edinburgh
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London
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Sheffield
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VOLUNTARY MARKS
Traditional fineness (purity) mark (Voluntary marks)
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Sterling
silver
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Sterling silver
Scotland
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Britannia
silver
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Gold
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Date Mark (Voluntary mark)
After 1999 a date letter indicating the year of hallmarking can be applied voluntarily in addition to the
compulsory marks. The date letters are the same on the four Assay Offices.
Commemorative marks (Voluntary marks)
Examples of commemorative marks applied to precious metals by the four UK Assay Offices are
the "Millennium Mark" (used during 1999 and 2000), the "Golden Jubilee Hallmark",
commemorating Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee (applied during 2002) and the Diamond
Jubilee Hallmarks commemorating Queen's Diamond Jubilee (applied from 1 July 2011 until 1 October 2012)
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Millennium mark
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Golden Jubilee Hallmark
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Diamond Jubilee Hallmark
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THE COMMON CONTROL MARK AND CONVENTION MARKS (Alternatively to previous marks)
After the sign of the International Convention on Hallmarks (1972) the UK Assay Offices
can strike the Convention Hallmark which will then be recognised by all member countries in the
International Convention. Conversely, Convention Hallmarks from other member countries are legally
recognised in the UK and do not have to be re-hallmarked in the UK.
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Silver
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Gold
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www.silvercollection.it |
This is a page of 'The What is? Silver Dictionary' of A Small Collection of
Antique Silver and Objects of vertu,
a 1000 pages richly illustrated website offering all you need to know about
antique silver, sterling silver, silverplate, sheffield plate, electroplate silver,
silverware, flatware, tea services and tea complements, marks and hallmarks, articles,
books, auction catalogs, famous silversmiths (Tiffany, Gorham, Jensen, Elkington),
history, oddities ...
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